News
Vanguard Gifted Academy Students Join Millions Globally for World Maths Day 2026
This week, students at Vanguard Gifted Academy joined an international community of learners to participate in World Maths Day, one of the world’s largest education events. Hosted by 3P Learning, the event challenges students to test their mathematical fluency through live, 60-second "Mathletics" rounds against peers from across the globe. While the event features a global leaderboard, the focus for Vanguard students was centered on personal growth and the mastery of "fact fluency." Rather than
Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners April Meeting: The Light Bulb Revolution
Jay Womack,Senior Landscape Architect discusses how a small change can provide positive resultsThe Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners will hold their April meeting on Tuesday April 21, 2026 at 6:45 p.m. at the Batavia Public Library at 10 S. Batavia Ave. Jay Womack will present “The Light Bulb Revolution” and will discuss how a small change provides positive results. Jay will review how a light bulb can improve your health, support increased insect populations, protect bird migrations, make neighborhoods safer,
Vanguard Gifted Academy Robotics Team Qualifies for Sphero World Championship for Second Consecutive Year
BATAVIA, IL — March 20, 2026 — Vanguard Gifted Academy is proud to announce that its upper elementary robotics team, Vanguard’s Happy Campers (Team 1948-06-02), has been selected to compete in the 2026 Sphero World Championship. This marks the second year in a row that students from the school’s "Band Two" cohort (3rd–5th grade) have reached the global finals of this prestigious STEM competition. The Sphero World Championship is an elite international event where top student teams demonstrate excellence
VANGUARD GIFTED ACADEMY STUDENTS EMBRACE THE CHALLENGE OF THE MATH KANGAROO COMPETITION
Batavia school hosts accessible daytime, evening, and online sessions to promote creative problem-solving over winning BATAVIA, IL - Students at Vanguard Gifted Academy took on a unique challenge today as they participated in the annual Math Kangaroo competition. Showcasing their dedication to learning, students tackled exams ranging from the first grade to the tenth grade math levels, with many stepping up to compete at or above their current math abilities. Because Vanguard Gifted Academy wants to
Vanguard Gifted Academy Redefines ‘Winning’ as Students Tackle Global Math Challenges
BATAVIA, IL — March 16, 2026 — While many students see mathematics as a series of formulas to memorize, a group of young scholars in Batavia is proving that math is actually a creative journey of resilience. Students at Vanguard Gifted Academy have entered their "Season of Math," a marathon of national and international competitions designed to push the boundaries of traditional learning. The season kicked off with the Pi Math Contest (PiMC) and Math Jams, where students tackled complex, non-routine
Vanguard Gifted Academy Launches “Innovation Odyssey”: A Global STREAM Summer Camp for Young Innovators
This summer, local students won't just be learning about the world—they will be researching and inventing it. Vanguard Gifted Academy has officially opened enrollment for its highly anticipated 2026 "Innovation Odyssey" Summer Camp, a unique program that blends global cultural immersion with cutting-edge nanoscience and hands-on STREAM (Science, Technology, Research, Engineering, Arts, and Math) projects. Designed for curious and high-ability learners, the Innovation Odyssey moves beyond traditional
Batavia and Geneva Key Clubs Excel at 2026 District Convention & Leadership Conference
BATAVIA, IL - The Kiwanis Club of Batavia Geneva Area is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Batavia Key Club and Geneva Key Club at the 2026 District Convention & Leadership Conference (DCLC) held February 20-22 in Springfield, Illinois.The annual conference, hosted by the Illinois–Eastern Iowa District of Key Club International, brings together student leaders from across the region to celebrate service, leadership, and the impact Key Club members have in their communities.This year,
Batavia High School Students Selected for State Art Exhibition
BATAVIA, IL — Three students from Batavia High School have been selected to showcase their artwork at the 13th Annual Illinois High School Art Exhibition, one of the state’s premier showcases for high school artists. Amelia (Mimi) Patterson, Jane Lishamer, and Benjamin Wash were chosen to exhibit their work among approximately 1,000 student artists from more than 125 high schools across Illinois. Their selection also qualifies them for consideration for college scholarships offered through the
Send Your Middle School Student to a STEAM Summer Camp With a Scholarship From the Batavia Woman’s Club - Now Accepting Applications from Local Students for a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) Experience This Summer
Do you have a middle schooler interested in having a summer camp STEAM experience—Science, Technology, Engineering, Music/Performing Arts, or Math? Let the Batavia Woman’s Club help with a scholarship. Apply by April 17, 2026, by visiting https://www.bataviawomansclub.org/scholarship The Batavia Woman’s Club is once again helping educate our local middle schoolers by providing scholarships to summer camps which offers a STEAM Curriculum (Science, Technology, Engineering, Music/Performing Arts, or
Batavia Students Join Global Scientists for Great Backyard Bird Count
BATAVIA, IL — While many students were looking forward to the weekend, students at Vanguard Gifted Academy were busy contributing to global science. Armed with tablets and binoculars, students spent Friday, Feb. 13, participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, a real-world community science initiative that helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology track bird populations worldwide. “At Vanguard, we believe that education should be authentic,” says Amy Trujillo, Head of School. “Participating
Vanguard Gifted Academy Launches Spring STEM Enrichment Series for Gifted and 2e Learners in Batavia
BATAVIA, IL – Vanguard Gifted Academy is launching a major community outreach initiative this spring to ensure high-level STEAM enrichment is accessible to all students in the Fox Valley. By hosting free after-hours events and partnering with local organizations for summer scholarships, the school is working to remove barriers for curious learners in the Batavia area. “We want to make sure that every student who wants this level of challenge gets it,” says Amy Trujillo, Head of School. “Our after-hours
